During the closing weekend of the 2009 Llangollen Festival, one of it’s most regular competing groups ; The Gurman Folk Dance Academy who travel all the way from Barnala, India to be in Llangollen; have shown their appreciation and gratitude to the International Eisteddfod by donating £100 to the week-long festival and £50 to the Competitor’s Club; which provides hospitality and shelter from the weather (and occasionally a rehearsal venue!) to the many groups in the iconic town during the Eisteddfod. 

In addition to this, the 11 year old violinist Sesim Bezduz, from Turkey, who won the Instrumental Solo Title for Under 16’s with a program of Danse Espagnolê and Köçekçe, donated £5 of her prize money to Hospitality, and later performed a private concert for the catering volunteers there. Llangollen was a mere pit-stop for the young virtuoso, who’s on her way to the Yehudi Menuhin School for the Summer, and then back to Turkey with her
Mother who is a Music Teacher, whilst her Father remains in the UK as a Glyndebourne Singer.
 
Upon hearing of the donations Mervyn Cousins, Llangollen’s Executive Director said “We are delighted to receive these donations from competitors, of course they go much further than being financial gestures. It is humbling to think that people who have come from all over the world, despite high travel and visa costs, would be willing to donate to the Eisteddfod. Naturally, we are extremely grateful”.